Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Tuesday's With Jess: Scent and Memories

Recently my husband bought these beautiful wooden platters and serving dishes that you see in the picture from an auction at our church. When I picked up one of them, I did something a little odd. I held the dish up to my nose and inhaled. My husband looked at me a little strangely but not too much - it's not unusual for me to do strange things! What I inhaled was a tangible reminder of my Dad - a man who worked with wood. To this day sawdust and lacquer bring memories of him flooding back.

What was interesting is the platters and dishes were a mixture of dark wood and light wood. I can't tell you the names of the wood but when I smelled the lighter wood I was NOT reminded of Dad. When I inhaled the darker wood, it was Dad all over. Even though each item had the same lacquer on it, the wood smells different.

It's funny how scents can recall some of the strongest memories. What are some of your favourite smells and what memories do they bring?

Jess' favourite genre is contemporary women's fiction and contemporary romance fiction. She also enjoys historical fiction with a focus on romance. She loves books set in country towns or farms with a cowboy featured in either historical or contemporary settings.

She is currently writing her first novel, a contemporary women's fiction/romance set in a small country town.

2 comments:

I think our noses have memories - my husband had a facial injury and can no longer smell most things... but he can still smell me (after 24 years) and he can still sometimes smell coffee. Is he really smelling them or are his brains cells filling in for him?

I'm a smell person, too, and I can't imagine not experiencing this sense. Lovely post.